Incandescent electric lamp



Sept. 22, 1936. M. FINE 2,055,098

. INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP Filed May 25, ess

INVENTOR. Mmorv FINE Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE 2,055,098 INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP' Milton Fine, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 23, 1935, Serial No. 23,063

3 Claims. (01.176-27) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an incandescent electric lamp.

The invention has for an object the construction of a lamp as mentioned which is provided with a filament or filamentsand an arrangement wherein each filament or sections of the filament or filaments may be selectively operated, or operated in groups to render the lamp more adaptable.

Specifically, the invention relates to an arrangement by which difierent circuits controlling the operation of the difierent filaments or sections of E'filaments may be very simply and dependably controlled.

As an object of this invention it is proposed to arrange a pair of contacts on the outer end of a base insulation of the lamp, to. provide a circuit from the shell contact to one of said contacts, and to include inseries a section of the filament, to provide another circuit from the shell contact to the other of said end contacts and to include in series the other section or sections of said filament, and to arrange one of said contacts movable or flexible, and extending over the other of said contacts and normally-out of contact therewith, and adapted to engage the end contact of an electric lamp socket in a normally engaged position in the lamp socket, and when the lamp is further engaged in the socket, to flex and make contact with the other of said contacts.

A further object of the invention is the construction of modifications which are characterized by an adjustable end contact for connecting with one contact or the other contact, or both contacts, for controlling the operation of the lamp in one condition or a second condition, or a third condition.

As another object, the invention proposes the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref,- erence will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing,'and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofjan incandescent electric lamp of the type to which the invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary sectional view of the base portion of the lamp shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plug end of an incandescent electric lamp constructed according to this invention, to which a schematic wiring of the filament has been added.

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the plug end of an incandescent electric lamp base constructed according to. another embodiment of this invention, to which a schematic showing of the filament has been added.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lamp showing a further embodiment of the invention.

The incandescent electric lamp, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a vacuum bulb ID with an internal support stem II and which is mounted on an insulation base l2. The bulb I0 is provided with a filament [3. A shell contact I4 is mounted 1 on the insulation base. A pair of contacts [5, l6

are mounted upon the outer end of the insulation base. A circuit extends from the shell contact l4 to one of said end contacts and consists of a lead ll attached at the point Ila upon the shell I4 and extending through the support stem II and terminating in a pair of branches Ill) and "c connected with diametrically opposite sides of the filament IS. The circuit continues through the filament portions Na and 13b to the lead l'ld which extends through the stem II and connects with the terminal l6. Another circuit extends from the shell contact M to the end contact l5 and includes the lead H, the branches llb and Ho (so far the parts of the second circuit are common to the parts of the first circuit), portions I30 and l3d of the filament, and a lead "e which extends through the stem II and connects with the end contact IS.

The end contact l6 has a flexible head I60. extending over the end contact IE, but normally out of connection therewith. This head I611 is adapted to make electrical connection with the end contact of a conventional electric socket when the lamp is engaged into the socket in a normal position. Furthermore, if the lamp is en-- gaged in a second position in the socket, one in which it is screwed further in, or one in which it is engaged further in, then the flexible head Ilia is-flexed inwards so as to make electrical connection with the end contact l5.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the lamp is engaged in an electric socket in its normal condition, the circuit including the filament sections Ba. and I3!) will be inoperation so that these filament sections are functioning. If these filament sections break, it is possible to place the lamp in the second condition so that the circuit through the filament sections I30 and lid is now in operation. Another use for the lamp would consist in using the lamp in the second position even though no portion of the filament is broken so that the candle power of the lamp is increased, as all portions of the filament are then in operation.

, In Figs. 3 and 4 the invention has been disclosed. There is a depressible plunger to control the circuits through the filament. More particularly, the incandescent lamp insulation base 12 is formed with a square-shaped opening in in which a plunger holding frame 20 is inserted. This plunger holding frame supports an end contact plunger 2|. The holding frame 20 comprises a strip of metal which is transversely bent at the areas 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d. The section between the areas 20a and 20b is formed with an opening through which the plunger contact 2| extends. This contact has a flange 2la limiting its outward motion. An expansion spring 23 is mounted between the flange 2M and the portion of the frame 20 between the areas 200 and 20d. The expansion spring 23 serves to urge the plunger 2| into the extended position. The insulation base I! is provided with sta- Ftionary contacts l5 and I 6 for controlling the two circuits through the filament similar to .the

arrangement previously described. These contacts l5 and I6 are'arranged upon the walls of the opening l2a. More particularly, the contact I5 is disposed on the end wall and located immediately above the inner end of the plunger 2i. and is engaged by the side of the frame 20. The frame 20 maintains its position due to its re siliency. The material of the frame between the areas 200 and 20d is of concave form to proment l3 into portions; one portion being represented by the numerals l3aa and I 3bb, and the other portion by the numerals Nice and "lid. The lead lld connects. the filament portions l3aa and i3bb with the end contact 5'. The lead We connects the filament portions i300 and I3dd with the end contact l5.

When the lamp with the socket shown in Figs.

3 and 4 is screwed into the socket in a normal condition, a circuit will exist from the end contact plunger 2| through the filament portions i300 and l3dd to the shell contact 14. The lamp may be very tightlyscrewed into the socket so that the plunger 2| is depressed, and in addition to the'circuitjmentioned, there will be a circuit from the end contact plunger 2| to the contact 16' through the filament portions lflaa and l3bb to the shell contact I4.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in which provision is made so that certain portions or other portions of the filament may be used when desired, or all portions used simultaneously. In this form of the invention there is a stationary'frame 30 which is forced into the recess 12a in the insulation base, and which maintains its position due to the flaring construction of its inner exiilemities engaging similarly shaped side walls of the recess- A rotatable and extendible end plunger 3| is slidably mounted through the central outer portion of the frame 30. A spring 33 .normally tends to urge the plunger contact 3| inwards. A pair of arms Ma and 3"; set

The contact I5 is arranged on one side wall from each other terminate in finger portions adapted to engage in two of three openings I21), I20, and lZd formed in the insulation base. The opening 32b is a dummy opening, while the openings I20 and Hal have stationary contacts 5 l6" and I5" respectively therein. 7 These contacts connect with the leads and the filament as described relative to Fig. 3 and which are indicated by identical reference numerals. I

The end contact 3| may be set in a position in which the fingers of the arms thereof engage in the openings l2b, I20 or [2d in such fashion that one filament portion, or the other filament portion, or both filament portions, are in the electric circuit.

In Fig. '7 another modified form of the invention is illustrated in which a bulb is shown with one end contact 35, and a circuit 36 in connection therewith and with said shell contact l5. This lamp has a filament in the circuit consisting of sections 31a and 3'") arranged in parallel. If one section (31a or 311)) burns out the lamp may still be used since the other section functions.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement. of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

I. In an incandescent electric lamp, an insulation base having an axial cavity in its outer end, a-shell contact on said insulation base, a pair of contacts within said cavity on the side wall and base wall respectively, a filament for the lamp, an electric lead from said shell contact to an intermediate point on said filament, another electric lead from one end of said filament to one of side wall thereof, and a spring-pressed contact pin-slidably mounted through said housing and having an extended outer end adapted to be pressed inwards to engage the inner end against the contact on the base wall of said cavity- 2, In an incandescent electric lamp, an insulation base having an axial cavity in its outer end, a shell contact on said insulation base, a pair of contacts within said cavity on the side wall and base wall respectively, a filament for the lamp, an electric lead from said shell contact to an intermediate point on said filament, another electric lead from one end of said filament to one of said pairs of contacts, another electric lead from the other end of said filament to the other of said pairs of contacts, a housing forced within said cavity and bearing against the contact on the side wall thereof, and a spring-pressed contact pin slidably mounted through said housing and having an extended outer end adapted to be pressed inwards to engage the inner end against the contact onthe ase wall of said cavity, said housing comprising a strip of metal bent at several transverse areas and having side portions resiliently engaging against the side walls of said cavity for maintaining itself in position.

8. man incandescent electric lamp, an insulap 76 tion base having an axial cavity in its outer end, a shell contact on said insulation base, a pair 01' contacts within said cavity on the side wall and base wall respectively, a filament for the lamp, an

electric lead from said shell contact to an intermediate'point on said filament, another electric lead from one end of said filament to one of said pairs of contacts, another electric lead from the other end of said filament to the other of said pairs of contacts, a housing forced within said cavity and bearing against the contact on the side wall thereof, and a spring-pressed contact pin slidably mounted through said housing and having an extended outer end adapted to bepressed inwards to engage the inner end against the contact on the base wall of said cavity, said housing comprising a strip of metal bent at several transverse areas and having side portions resiliently engaging against the side walls of said cavity for f MILTON FINE. 

